Cleaner for forks

ABSTRACT

A device for cleaning forks employing a U shaped member with a handle extending outward from the cross piece. A plurality of spaced parallel cleaning elements essentially coplanar with member and handle extend transversely and taut between the two legs of the member.

ilnited States Patent 1191 Preston 1 Jan. 15, 1974 1 CLEANER FOR FORKS 2,162,240 6/1939 BOldUSOff 132/91 1,166,986 l/l916 Heathcock 15/104.52 [75] Inventor: Premmsamtcathermes, 3,631,869 1/1972 Espinosa 132 91 Ontarw, Canada 485,048 10/1892 Lehmann l5/2l8.l Assigneez The Raymond Lee Organization 102,803 5/1870 Glbbs 15/104.52

Inc., New York, NY. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 F'I l 7 97 40,607 7/1907 Switzerland 15/2l8.l 1 led Ju y 1 l 2 494,139 3/1930 Germany 30/117, [21] Appl. No.: 272,423 1,050 1/1913 Great Britain l5/218.l

Primary Examiner-Danie1 Blum 52 5 321 Attorney-R1chard S. Shreve, Jr. [58] Field of Search 15/39, 104.5, 104.51,

15/104.52, 104.53, 104.54, 218.1; 30/116, [57] ABSTRACT 1 7; 132 91 A device for cleaning forks employing a U shaped member with a handle extending outward from the 5 References Cited cross piece. plurality of spaced parallel cleaning ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS ments essentially coplanar w1th member and handle 2 589 9 M1952 w b H 17 extend transversely and taut between the two legs of em erg 2,023,706 12 1935 Smith 30 117 the member 2,187,899 l/l940 Henne 132/91 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CLEANER FOR FORKS FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

It is difficult to remove dried eggs and other foods disposed on and between the tines of a fork whereby complete cleaning of forks is not easy. I have invented a new type of hand operated device which can be used to clean forks including tines completely, quickly and easily.

SUMMARY:

To this end, I employ a U shaped member having two parallel legs interconnected by a cross piece. An elongated handle parallel to the legs is secured at one end to the mid point of the cross piece and extends outward at right angles thereto in a direction opposite to the direction at which the legs extend from the cross piece. A plurality of elongated spaced parallel cleaning elements such as nylon cord or any material which is slightly stretchable and bristly essentially coplanar with member and handle extend transversely and taut between the legs In use the elements bear upon and in between the tines and easily remove food or other debris as indicated. The elements when worn or frayed can be readily replaced BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail of one of the parts used in this invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan which shows the housing used in my invention;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a plastic member comprises a U shaped section with parallel spaced legs and perpendicular cross piece 12 as well as handle 14 secured to the mid point of the cross piece and extending parallel to the legs but in opposite direction.

The outside surface of legs and cross piece has a longitudinal groove 16. Each leg has a longitudinally extending slot 18 extending inward from the free edge.

Three parallel elongated coplanar elongated cleaning elements 20 such as lengths of nylon cord or any slightly stretchable and bristly material extend between oppositely disposed end plates 22. These plates are snapped detachably into groove 16 at opposite legs with the elements extending through the slots transversely and taut between the legs and essentially coplanar with the member. The cords can be easily removed and replaced as required.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

l. A device for cleaning forks comprising:

a U shaped member provided with two parallel legs interconnected by a cross piece;

an elongated handle coplanar with said member and parallel with said legs, said handle extending in a direction opposite to said legs, one end of the handle being secured to the midpoint of the crosspiece;

a plurality of spaced parallel cleaning elements essentially coplanar with said member and extending transversely and taut between said legs;

each leg having a slot therein extending in the direction of elongation thereof, said elements extending through said slots;

said elements being secured at each end to a corresponding support whereby one set of ends is secured to one support and the other set of ends is secured to another support, each support being detachably securable to the outer surface of a corresponding leg.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said elements are lengths of nylon cord.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of elements is equal to three. 

1. A device for cleaning forks comprising: A U shaped member provided with two parallel legs interconnected by a cross piece; AN ELONGATED HANDLE COPLANAR WITH SAID MEMBER AND PARALLEL WITH SAID LEGS, SAID HANDLE EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID LEGS, ONE END OF THE HANDLE BEING SECURED TO THE MIDPOINT OF THE CROSSPIECE; A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL CLEANING ELEMENTS ESSENTIALLY COPLANAR WITH SAID MEMBER AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AND TAUT BETWEEN SAID LEGS; EACH LEG HAVING A SLOT THEREIN EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF ELONGATION THEREOF, SAID ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOTS; SAID ELEMENTS BEING SECURED AT EACH END TO A CORRESPONDING SUPPORT WHEREBY ONE SET OF ENDS IS SECURED TO ONE SUPPORT AND THE OTHER SET OF ENDS IS SECURED TO ANOTHER SUPPORT, EACH SUPPORT BEING DETACHABLY SECURABLE TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF A CORRESPONDING LEG.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said elements are lengths of nylon cord.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of elements is equal to three. 